Depending which side you take, the “mainstream media” either reflects a liberal bias or is controlled by corporate interests seeking to maintain the status quo.

As a journalist with 38 years of experience, I’ve heard both sides of the argument from friends, neighbors and acquaintances. Liberals tend to believe the newspaper sways to the right in its news coverage. Conservatives are convinced that every person in the news industry is out to promote a left-wing agenda on America. There have been times we have published items that raise the wrath of both sides — conservatives telling the reporter the coverage leaned to the left and liberals saying the exact same story was tilted to the right.

Some people believe the news media agenda is established in the White House, almost convinced that we receive daily instructions from the Obama administration on how to slant a story or what is included in that day’s newspaper. Still others hold to the notion that some corporate entity dictates what we cover and how we cover it. Neither is so. Never in nearly 40 years have I been told that a story must be slanted. Rather, the rule has always been to reflect the events in a fair and accurate manner.

Do reporters have opinions? Surely, they do. But professional journalists are trained to refrain from expressing their personal opinions in news columns. Virtually all are judicious in maintaining objectivity in their daily reports. When they stray, which is highly unusual, editors, like myself, are trained to be on guard for words, phrases and other story elements that can be construed as favoring one side over another.

Over those 38 years in the news business I have written thousands of articles, millions of words and I can tell you each one was crafted to be objective. I have known hundreds of people in the industry, and all take pride in the profession and their ability to put their own opinions aside and give an unbiased view to the reader.

Take the fracking debate, for instance. The pro-fracking crowd is convinced that our news columns have been turned over to those opposed to natural gas drilling. Those who say natural gas drilling and fracking are abhorrent think our reporters have been co-opted by oil and gas industry lobbyists. One critic has been so bold as to suggest that I receive compensation from fossil fuel industry sources. My wife will attest that no such income comes into our bank account.

Critics on both sides get some of their ammunition from commentators with dubious agendas, whose own purpose is served by calling into question the motives of the mainstream media. We, the people who work for media outlets, have allowed them to dominate the conversation, not standing up to defend our honor.

Allow me to defend the thousands of honorable journalists who work in the profession whose sole purpose is to accurately and truthfully reflect the events of the day from all angles and from both sides.